ACTIONS AND USES 567 



or a wound, they irritate, and coagulate albumin. Left in 

 contact with the skin the horny epidermis is softened and 

 easily removed, but without irritation. Full doses of the 

 powder or concentrated solution are in-contact irritants, 

 provoking, when inhaled, sneezing and coughing, and when 

 swallowed vomiting in carnivora and diarrhoea in all animals. 

 Sodium salicylate is devoid of irritant action, but has very 

 similar antiseptic power to that of the acid. Although not 

 very soluble, the acid and its salts are tolerably quickly 

 absorbed, and the acid occurs in the blood as an alkaline 

 salt. The general effects are similar to those produced by 

 carbolic acid, but in some individuals (men) and in dogs, 

 full continued doses cause nausea, occasional vomiting, 

 and giddiness symptoms which resemble those of cinchon- 

 ism. Further administration causes slowness and weakness 

 of the heart, marked dyspnoea and depression of the central 

 nervous system, with convulsions and collapse. In healthy 

 animals the temperature is not affected, but in rheumatic and 

 malarial fevers abnormal temperature is reduced, sometimes 

 to the extent of several degrees. This effect is probably due 

 to the dilatation of the vessels of the skin and the conse- 

 quent loss of heat. W. Rutherford found that the acid and 

 its soda salt, like benzoic acid and benzoates, are hepatic 

 but not intestinal stimulants, and slightly increase the flow 

 of bile. They are eliminated more quickly in vegetable 

 than in flesh feeders (Frohner). They are excreted in the 

 perspiration, saliva, and urine, in which they appear as 

 salicylates, and in combination with glycocoll as salicyluric 

 acid. They communicate to the urine a brown or green 

 coloration, and retard its decomposition. 



Toxic doses are borne better by graminivora than grani- 

 vora. Frohner records that a healthy horse, weighing 

 1000 Ibs., received during three days 300 grammes (about 

 9| ounces). Slight dyspepsia resulted from irritation of the 

 alimentary mucous membrane, but no toxic symptoms. 

 A healthy sheep of 70 Ibs., during three days had 50 grammes 

 (1J ounces), but remained perfectly healthy. The like nega- 

 tive results also occurred in the case of a sheep of 65 Ibs., 

 which received in three days 65 grammes (2 ounces) of 

 sodium salicylate. Dogs are not so tolerant ; toxic effects 



